Hello everyone, I'm Grant and thinking of starting a new and fun hobby (skydiving). I have too many expensive hobbies as it is, so trading in a few of those expensive hobbies for just a couple of them. I've been reading up on USPA.org and also lurking here and it helped me understand the sport better. I just want to ask a couple of questions before I jump into the fire or jump out of a plane

1. Never been skydiving, but want to learn. Should I start with a tandem jump or go straight into AFF?

1. Never been skydiving, but want to learn. Should I start with a tandem jump or go straight into AFF?

Hey Grant, welcome to the most addictive sport/hobby in the world ...

As far as tandem vs. AFF, I know there are a lot of opinons, so I'll give you mine. Doesn't mean it's right, just what I did and what worked for me. [/disclaimer]

I did tandems. Lots of them, haha. I had no idea I was going to progress to AFF or my A-license (which I acquired this past weekend, WOOHOO!), so tandems were the natural choice for me. I did one, then another a few weeks later, then another, and another ... eight total. I even did a few after I decided I wanted to do AFF, because I was scared of being under canopy and wanted the Tandem Instructor to work through it with me.

Aside from all that, you go through such sensory overload your first jump, it helps to be able to just experience it and "enjoy the ride" without any responsibility. Once I knew what to expect in freefall and under canopy, it was easier to do on my own.

My advice (as a newcomer into the sport) is definately do a Tandem to start....its quite a mind blowing experience to do a skydive so doing a tandem will give you a good idea of what to expect from an AFF course.

I'd suggest that you do your tandem at the same DZ that you plan to do AFF so you get to know the place a little andd have met some of the staff.

Teel your tandem instructor that you are doing AFF so you can do an 'active tandem' - you'll (probably) be able to steer the canopy and learn more than someone just doing a standard tandem.

As far as DZ's, both you mention are well known - Good luck and welcome to the best sport in the world !

I was pretty sure I'd like it, so I went straight to AFF. That worked fine for me. The cost was about the same between an AFF jump and a tandem, and the way I saw it, if I decided I didn't like skydiving I could just not come back.

50 jumps later I rode the plane up with my sister and niece for their tandem jumps. They seem to enjoy them. It's a little too much being strapped to a dude for my liking, though.

So I think it's mostly just a matter of personal preference and you really can't go wrong. If you want to do a tandem, do a tandem. If you think you should just go on to AFF, go on to AFF. Either way, it's going to be fun!

1. Never been skydiving, but want to learn. Should I start with a tandem jump or go straight into AFF?

2. Which place is better to go skydiving Perris or Elsinore?

There are pros and cons about doing either as a first jump. Either one is good...it's really about how you think you would handle being thrown out into an environment you never experienced before.

In fact, some schools require one or two or more tandems before AFF. I personally think that is a waste...especially if the tandem jumps do not count towards your AFF progression.

If you decide to do the tandem , first make triple sure the Tandem Instructor knows, and will teach you, the things that you will need to do that will apply to your AFF training....make it working jump instead of a joy ride.

Welcome to the forums! How you start really depends on your comfort level with skydiving. There's no way I would have ever jumped on my own for my first jump, but plenty of other people went straight to static line or AFF and were just fine with their decision. Do you think you'll be heads up enough to land the canopy on your own if something happens to your radio contact with your instructor?

As for which dz, they are both great in their own right. My advice is to visit each one and decide which vibe you like as well as the landing areas.